Surname Seaford - Meaning and Origin
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Seaford: What does the surname Seaford mean?
The surname Seaford is of English origin and is derived from a geographical location, specifically the town of Seaford in East Sussex, England. The town’s name itself is said to be derived from the Old English 'Seauuford,' which means 'sea ford,' indicating a shallow part of the sea or a body of water that could be crossed on foot or by a vehicle. People originally given this surname likely either originated from or once lived in the town of Seaford. Like many surnames based on geographical locations, the purpose was often to identify a person's place of birth or residence. So, the surname Seaford essentially identifies the person as someone from Seaford. It represents a sort of familial heritage, tracing back to the ancestors who once resided in that region of England.
Order DNA origin analysisSeaford: Where does the name Seaford come from?
The last name Seaford is most common in the United States, though with relatively few occurrences. According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2018, the states with the largest population of Seafords were California, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. The largest concentration of Seafords in the United States today is in Washington, DC-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area contains parts of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
Outside of the US, Seaford is especially prevalent in Australia, particularly in New South Wales and South Australia. Within the United Kingdom, Seaford has its greatest concentration in the South East of England, particularly in East Sussex, Kent and Hampshire.
It is not known exactly why the name Seaford is concentrated in some particular regions, though it is thought to have a lot to do with the etymology of the surname. “Seaford” may have originated as a combination of “sea” and “ford”, meaning “a fording place near the sea”. It is thus plausible that settlers with the last name Seaford had a history of nearness to coastal areas.
Seaford is a fairly uncommon name, but its geographical distribution offers a glimpse into the history of its usage.
Variations of the surname Seaford
The surname Seaford has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that are derived from this British surname.
Variants of the surname include Seafort, Saford, Safword, Seeford, Seefordt, Seaforth, Seaward, Seaforths and Seyfert. The spelling of the surname could also be varied, such as Seafort, Sanfort and Saford.
The origin of the surname is believed to be Old English. It's believed that the name came from the localities of Seafort on the east coast of England, or the nearby village of Seasforth. The elements of the place name that make up the surname are seas or sease, meaning "sea", and ford, a river crossing. Together, these elements mean "sea crossing". The name could also be derived from "seafarer," meaning someone who worked in the sea or navigated it.
Surnames with analogous origins to Seaford include Stansfield, Standish, Seaborn, Saltmarsh, Salt, and Blackwell. Seabourn is a variant of the surname Seaborn, which is a combination of the Old English elements se, meaning "sea" and burna, meaning “stream” or “brook”. Standish is derived from the Old English stan and wic, meaning "town". Stansfield is derived from the Old English stan and feld, meaning "stony field". Salt is derived from the Old English salt, meaning "brine, salt-making, salt-pan." Blackwell is derived from the Old English blace, meaning "dark" and wlad, meaning "woodland, wood."
Famous people with the name Seaford
- Tevin Seaford: Professional basketball player who currently plays for the Cocodrilos de Caracas in Venezuela.
- Lamar Seaford: American actor known for his roles in the films “Get on Up” and “John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum”.
- Bruce Seaford: Former professional American football player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL).
- Whitney Seaford: Professional businesswoman and entrepreneur, founder of Seaford Incorporated.
- John Seaford: Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.
- Tiffany Seaford: Award-winning American poet and author who is known for her work on spirituality and identity and for being an inspirational speaker.
- Hamilton Seaford: Professional golfer on the United States PGA Tour who has won various tournaments, including the 2020 RBC Canadian Open.
- Ike Seaford: American hip hop recording artist and producer who has been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards.
- Walter Seaford: Retired American boxer who competed in the heavyweight division and was a three-time Golden Gloves champion.
- Paris Seaford: Award-winning fashion designer and founder of the Paris Seaford fashion line.